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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0; maximum-scale=1.0; user-scalable=0;"/><title>Ecclesiastes 2 NASB ESV Parallel</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/newp.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-LR4HSKRP2H"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-LR4HSKRP2H'); </script><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/ecclesiastes/2.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="../../topmenuchap/ecclesiastes/2-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="http://biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="/ecclesiastes/">Ecclesiastes</a> > Ecclesiastes 2</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../ecclesiastes/1.shtml" title="Ecclesiastes 1">◄</a> Ecclesiastes 2 <a href="../ecclesiastes/3.shtml" title="Ecclesiastes 3">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading">NASB Parallel ESV <a href="../../bsb/ecclesiastes/2.shtml">[BSB</a> <a href="../../csb/ecclesiastes/2.shtml">CSB</a> <a href="../../esv/ecclesiastes/2.shtml">ESV</a> <a href="../../hcs/ecclesiastes/2.shtml">HCS</a> <a href="../../kjv/ecclesiastes/2.shtml">KJV</a> <a href="../../isv/ecclesiastes/2.shtml">ISV</a> <a href="../../nas/ecclesiastes/2.shtml">NAS</a> <a href="../../net/ecclesiastes/2.shtml">NET</a> <a href="../../niv/ecclesiastes/2.shtml">NIV</a> <a href="../../nlt/ecclesiastes/2.shtml">NLT</a> <a href="../../heb/ecclesiastes/2.shtml">HEB]</a></div><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td class="version" width="50%">New American Standard Bible 1995</td><td class="version" width="50%">English Standard Version</td></tr></table><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/2-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span><span class="btext1">I said to myself, "Come now, I will test you with pleasure. So enjoy yourself." And behold, it too was futility.<td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/2-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span><span class="btext2">I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself.” But behold, this also was vanity.</span></td></tr></table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/2-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span><span class="btext1">I said of laughter, "It is madness," and of pleasure, "What does it accomplish?"<td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/2-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span><span class="btext2">I said of laughter, “It is mad,” and of pleasure, “What use is it?”</span></td></tr></table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/2-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span><span class="btext1">I explored with my mind how to stimulate my body with wine while my mind was guiding me wisely, and how to take hold of folly, until I could see what good there is for the sons of men to do under heaven the few years of their lives.<td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/2-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span><span class="btext2">I searched with my heart how to cheer my body with wine—my heart still guiding me with wisdom—and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the children of man to do under heaven during the few days of their life.</span></td></tr></table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/2-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span><span class="btext1">I enlarged my works: I built houses for myself, I planted vineyards for myself;<td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/2-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span><span class="btext2">I made great works. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself.</span></td></tr></table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/2-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span><span class="btext1">I made gardens and parks for myself and I planted in them all kinds of fruit trees;<td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/2-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span><span class="btext2">I made myself gardens and parks, and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees.</span></td></tr></table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/2-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span><span class="btext1">I made ponds of water for myself from which to irrigate a forest of growing trees.<td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/2-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span><span class="btext2">I made myself pools from which to water the forest of growing trees.</span></td></tr></table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/2-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span><span class="btext1">I bought male and female slaves and I had homeborn slaves. Also I possessed flocks and herds larger than all who preceded me in Jerusalem.<td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/2-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span><span class="btext2">I bought male and female slaves, and had slaves who were born in my house. I had also great possessions of herds and flocks, more than any who had been before me in Jerusalem.</span></td></tr></table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/2-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span><span class="btext1">Also, I collected for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I provided for myself male and female singers and the pleasures of men-- many concubines.<td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/2-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span><span class="btext2">I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I got singers, both men and women, and many concubines, the delight of the sons of man.</span></td></tr></table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/2-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span><span class="btext1">Then I became great and increased more than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also stood by me.<td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/2-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span><span class="btext2">So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me.</span></td></tr></table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/2-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span><span class="btext1">All that my eyes desired I did not refuse them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, for my heart was pleased because of all my labor and this was my reward for all my labor.<td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/2-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span><span class="btext2">And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil.</span></td></tr></table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/2-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span><span class="btext1">Thus I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had exerted, and behold all was vanity and striving after wind and there was no profit under the sun.<td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/2-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span><span class="btext2">Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.</span></td></tr></table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/2-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span><span class="btext1">So I turned to consider wisdom, madness and folly; for what will the man do who will come after the king except what has already been done?<td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/2-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span><span class="btext2">So I turned to consider wisdom and madness and folly. For what can the man do who comes after the king? Only what has already been done.</span></td></tr></table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/2-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span><span class="btext1">And I saw that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness.<td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/2-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span><span class="btext2">Then I saw that there is more gain in wisdom than in folly, as there is more gain in light than in darkness.</span></td></tr></table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/2-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span><span class="btext1">The wise man's eyes are in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. And yet I know that one fate befalls them both.<td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/2-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span><span class="btext2">The wise person has his eyes in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. And yet I perceived that the same event happens to all of them.</span></td></tr></table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/2-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span><span class="btext1">Then I said to myself, "As is the fate of the fool, it will also befall me. Why then have I been extremely wise?" So I said to myself, "This too is vanity."<td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/2-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span><span class="btext2">Then I said in my heart, “What happens to the fool will happen to me also. Why then have I been so very wise?” And I said in my heart that this also is vanity.</span></td></tr></table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/2-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span><span class="btext1">For there is no lasting remembrance of the wise man as with the fool, inasmuch as in the coming days all will be forgotten. And how the wise man and the fool alike die!<td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/2-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span><span class="btext2">For of the wise as of the fool there is no enduring remembrance, seeing that in the days to come all will have been long forgotten. How the wise dies just like the fool!</span></td></tr></table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/2-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span><span class="btext1">So I hated life, for the work which had been done under the sun was grievous to me; because everything is futility and striving after wind.<td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/2-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span><span class="btext2">So I hated life, because what is done under the sun was grievous to me, for all is vanity and a striving after wind.</span></td></tr></table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/2-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span><span class="btext1">Thus I hated all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun, for I must leave it to the man who will come after me.<td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/2-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span><span class="btext2">I hated all my toil in which I toil under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to the man who will come after me,</span></td></tr></table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/2-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span><span class="btext1">And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have control over all the fruit of my labor for which I have labored by acting wisely under the sun. This too is vanity.<td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/2-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span><span class="btext2">and who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will be master of all for which I toiled and used my wisdom under the sun. This also is vanity.</span></td></tr></table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/2-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span><span class="btext1">Therefore I completely despaired of all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun.<td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/2-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span><span class="btext2">So I turned about and gave my heart up to despair over all the toil of my labors under the sun,</span></td></tr></table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/2-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span><span class="btext1">When there is a man who has labored with wisdom, knowledge and skill, then he gives his legacy to one who has not labored with them. This too is vanity and a great evil.<td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/2-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span><span class="btext2">because sometimes a person who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave everything to be enjoyed by someone who did not toil for it. This also is vanity and a great evil.</span></td></tr></table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/2-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span><span class="btext1">For what does a man get in all his labor and in his striving with which he labors under the sun?<td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/2-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span><span class="btext2">What has a man from all the toil and striving of heart with which he toils beneath the sun?</span></td></tr></table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/2-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span><span class="btext1">Because all his days his task is painful and grievous; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is vanity.<td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/2-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span><span class="btext2">For all his days are full of sorrow, and his work is a vexation. Even in the night his heart does not rest. This also is vanity.</span></td></tr></table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/2-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span><span class="btext1">There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and tell himself that his labor is good. This also I have seen that it is from the hand of God.<td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/2-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span><span class="btext2">There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God,</span></td></tr></table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/2-25.htm"><b>25</b></a></span><span class="btext1">For who can eat and who can have enjoyment without Him?<td width="50%" class="odd" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/2-25.htm"><b>25</b></a></span><span class="btext2">for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment?</span></td></tr></table> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/2-26.htm"><b>26</b></a></span><span class="btext1">For to a person who is good in His sight He has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, while to the sinner He has given the task of gathering and collecting so that he may give to one who is good in God's sight. This too is vanity and striving after wind.<td width="50%" class="even" valign="top"><span class="reftext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/2-26.htm"><b>26</b></a></span><span class="btext2">For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he has given the business of gathering and collecting, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.</span></td></tr></table><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td class="copy" width="50%">New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit <a href="http://www.lockman.org" target="_top">//www.lockman.org</a></td><td class="copy" width="50%">ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by <a href="//www.crossway.org/home/esv/">Crossway Bibles</a>, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. 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